Billups' return uncertain

The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan dunks the ball against the Spurs. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES – People want to know when Chauncey Billups will return to the court.

He was asked Wednesday morning after the Clippers' shootaround.

"I'm not going to throw a date out, obviously," Billups said.

Less than six hours later, Billups appeared on ESPN's Countdown and told a different story.

"Barring any setbacks," Billups said, "I'm hoping in a month I'll be back out there."

He was asked about his return for a third time before the Clippers' game with San Antonio and gave a third answer.

"Write whatever you want," he said.

The main reason why Billups' return date is cloudy is because it's actually a mystery.

At this point, Billups said he's playing at game speed in practice without soreness in his Achilles' tendon.

"It's been nothing in my Achilles'. My Achilles' is great. It's strong, powerful," Billups said. "It's recalibrating the rest of my body, getting it up to speed, telling it 'It's time to go.'"

Since returning to full contact practice during the preseason, Billups' setbacks haven't had much to do with his surgically repaired left Achilles' tendon.

Instead, the setbacks have been stiffness in his back and a slight strain in his calf muscle.

Billups also wants to make sure once he comes back, he stays back.

"I could turn it on for a week or so and, boom, have to shut it down for a few days. I don't want to do that," he said. "I don't want to play two games and sit two games. I want to be back playing and be part of that team everyday."

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